Improvement in invalid-bedsteads



R. D. WHITT EMDRE.

Invalid-Bedstead. NO. 162,985. 7 i Patented Mag/4,1815.

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PATENT ROBERT D. VVHITTEMORE, OF BELVIDERE, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN lNVALlD-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,985, dated May 4, 1875; application filed July 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT D. WRITTE- MORE, of Belvidere, in the county of Lamoille and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedsteads for Invalids; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bedsteads for invalids; and consists in the arrangement and combination of parts that will be more fully described hereafter.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is an end view Fig. 4, plan view. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the posts. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the rails.

(t represents the posts of an ordinary bedstead, which are connected by the usual side rails 0, end rails b, and head and foot boards 0. Between the rails are placed either cords or slats, to support the mattress upon which the patient is to rest.

Cut into each of the posts a are two mortises, g h, which extend inward, at right angles to each other, until they meet at the center of the posts, the ones h being somewhat longer than the ones g. Into the mortises g are placed the ends of the rails i of the sliding frame, by means of which the patient can be raised upward a suitable distance above the bed to allow it to be made up, or to enable the patient to assume a sit- To the ends of the rails 'i, which move vertically in the mortise g, are secured the straps or belts t, which pass up from the Windlass m, journaled in the head and foot rails I), over the rollers 01. in the top of the mortises h. As there are two of these straps or belts for each rail, by turning the Windlass by means of the crank 0 at one end, the whole frame can be raised upward the full length of the slots 9, carrying the patient upon it.

Near the center of the rails i, on their inner sides, are formed the shoulders 19, to which shoulders are hinged the two short sets of.

rails r, the rails being hinged so as to move in opposite directions. Over the shoulders 19. across the frame, and fastened to the outside of the rails i, is a piece of canvas, S, which remains stationary, while over the short rails 0" pieces of similar material are fastened to their sides, which cover the remaining portions of the frame, and are movable with the rails. The outer ends of these short rails are connected together by crosspieces q, to which are attached the straps or belting t, which have their other ends secured to the rollers V, journaled to the inside of the posts a. By applying a crank t0 the head-roller, while the sliding frame is resting upon the mattress, the short rails r at this end will be raised upward to any desired extent, so as to gently elevate the patients head and shoulders. By first raising the sliding frame a short distance above the mattress, and then raising the head-rails and lowering the foot-rails, the body of the patient will be raised upward, while the feet will be lowered, thus bringing him into either a reclinin'g or sitting position, as may be desired.

The Windlass and the rollers are provided with suitable ratchets and pawls, by means of which they may be held in any desired position. The canvas or other covering may be made of three separate parts-one for the head-rails, one for the body, and one for the foot-rails, as shown; or it may be made in one continuous piece.

The slots g, in which the ends of the rails 03 slide up and down, hold these rails so that they cannot swing laterally or be turned over by the weight of the person occupying the bed, nor be made to rattle or shake. The rollers a, over which the belts pass, are within the mortises h in the posts atherefore entirely out of the way; and the belts, being between the posts, occupy but little space, and do not interfere with the comfort of the patient.

I am aware that a frame of any suitable construction, placed over the top of the bed, and connected to a Windlass, so that the patient can be raised vertically above the bed,

Prion.

is not new. I am also aware that such vertically-moving frames have been provided with a head-piece that could be raised up by means of a roller and straps, so that the patient could assume a reclining position, and these I broadly disclaim.

My invention consists in providing this frame with both a movable head and foot, arranged to move in opposite directions, so that the patient can be raised into a sitting position, and in slotting the posts, so that but a single roller in each post is necessary, and so that the frame cannot sway from side to side.

Having thus described my invention I claim- 

